Yucca (Yucca), whose common name is the same as its scientific name, is the New Mexico State flower. In Diné, this plant is called Tsá’ászeh. This ubiquitous plant found here in the Chihuahuan desert has surprising uses by the Diné and Ndé from its blossoms down to its roots.
The long pithy leaves could be pounded out to make long strips of strong vegetable matter so that sandals and sturdy rope could be made. Very popular were the high levels of saponins (soaping properties) found in the roots of the yucca. The dry roots were pounded and then thrashed in water. The suds that resulted from this were lathered into the hair as a shampoo and the rest was used as a soap. And the seasonal flower blossoms produced in May and June are highly palatable and were enjoyed as a yummy, sweet treat. Different species of yucca have varying forms of fruits that they produce. The fruits of banana yucca are fleshy and succulent, roughly like short, fat, green bananas, while most other yuccas have dry, hard fruits.
And while this beautiful plant is so practical, the yucca was also a veritable medicine chest. The fruit, flowers, seeds, leaves, and bark were all used for medicinal purposes. And even though the water in this area was scarce and brackish, different parts of the yucca were brewed as a tea to help with headaches while the sap was made into a poultice to treat skin conditions, stop swelling, and control bleeding.
